{"272591":{"#nid":"272591","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Applying Lessons Learned from One of the Biggest Blackouts in History","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EOn a warm afternoon in August 2003, in rural Ohio, a high-voltage power line brushed against some untrimmed tree limbs. The action tripped a relay that immediately shut off the power it was carrying. As system operators worked to understand what was happening, three more lines sagged into trees and were shut down. Joining power lines were forced to shoulder the extra burden until they, too, failed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat ensued that day was a cascade of failures throughout the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. In all, 50 million customers lost power for up to two days. For many, this blackout served as a wake-up call to the fragility of the electric energy grid.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMore than 10 years later, our electric power system continues to be challenged. In the United States, 149 power outages affecting at least 50,000 customers occurred between 2000 and 2004, a number which grew to 349 between 2005 and 2009. In 2012, the prolonged power outages in New York and New Jersey caused by Hurricane Sandy once again demonstrated the system\u2019s vulnerability.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe demands of our digital society are increasing. What\u2019s more, our need to accommodate renewable energy generation is rising, and threats to infrastructure security and concerns over global climate change are growing. To help address these concerns, Georgia Tech is conducting research that crosses many disciplines, including electrical and computer engineering, public policy, mechanical engineering and information security.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERevolutionizing the Delivery of Electricity\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe electricity grid is a large, complex system of power generation, transmission and distribution. High-voltage transmission lines carry power from large power plants to load centers hundreds of miles away. Next, lower-voltage distribution systems draw electricity from the transmission lines and distribute it to individual customers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis long-standing electricity paradigm is phasing out as advancements to the grid essentially make it \u201csmarter.\u201d Smart grids are equipped with advanced sensing, communication, and control systems that will allow unprecedented interaction between electricity providers and consumers. The smart grid will integrate renewable energy sources and allow a new class of utility customers to be both providers and consumers of power.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech: Advancing the Smart Grid\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe potential of the smart grid is enormous: improved energy efficiency, optimization of power supply and demand, and greater transparency into power consumption.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers across several disciplines are helping to advance the smart grid by developing technologies, creating methodologies and analyzing policies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThwarting Blackouts\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA phenomenon called a \u201cvoltage collapse\u201d can cause a blackout when electricity demands reach a critical level, even if there is sufficient power generation to meet the demand. The Northeast Blackout of 2003 led utilities and the government to team up to install a phasor network throughout the United States.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy placing phasor measurement units at critical points in the network, operators can assess system stress. Miroslav Begovic, a professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, helped to develop a methodology that uses the data collected from phasor measurement units. System operators can quickly assess the state of the power system and determine in real time whether it is in danger of a blackout.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIntegrating Renewable Energy Sources\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWind, sun, water, wood, organic waste, and geothermal energy generated about 12 percent of the electricity in the United States in 2012.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Strategic Energy Institute, and School of Mechanical Engineering\u0026nbsp; are working together to allow expansion of this percentage. Researcher teams are developing a more distributed and flexible control architecture that supports high levels of renewable energy generation and storage. In addition, they are studying market mechanisms that balance supply and demand in the presence of these energy sources.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis new architecture is based on the emerging concept of \u201cprosumers\u201d \u2014 a combination of the words \u201cconsumer\u201d and \u201cproducer\u201d \u2014 which are economically motivated small-scale energy ecosystems that can consume, produce and store electricity. For example, prosumers could include homeowners who consume electricity from the grid while also producing power onsite from solar panels on their homes\u2019 roofts that feeds back into the grid.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAnalyzing Energy Policies\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn recent years, several U.S. states, the federal government and other countries have adopted or are considering laws, regulations, programs, and requirements aimed at improving power systems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearchers from Georgia Tech\u2019s Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and School of Economics are analyzing and recommending policies that promote the path toward the next generation of the electric utility grid.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESecuring Utilities from Cyber Attacks\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to asset management concerns, utilities are also worried about cyber threats. A National Research Council report warned that a coordinated strike on the electric grid could have devastating effects on the American economy. Georgia Tech researchers have helped secure and protect devices throughout U.S. government and corporate networks for years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo help prevent cyber attacks, the Georgia Tech Research Institute, National Electric Energy Testing, Research and Applications Center and the Strategic Energy Institute are working with experts in smart grid technology to develop tools that can detect weaknesses.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat\u2019s Next?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETechnical, regulatory and financial obstacles have slowed its worldwide adoption, and it is estimated to take decades for the entire grid renovation. Georgia Tech researchers continue their development of this transformative technology and the smart grid momentum is growing.\u0026nbsp; In fact, smart grid technology is already a reality in several U.S. cities.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELearn More About the Smart Grid:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.gtresearchnews.gatech.edu\/tackling-energy-challenges-with-technology-and-policy\/\u0022\u003ETackling Energy Challenges with Technology and Policy\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.research.gatech.edu\/news\/department-energy-awards-contract-detect-cyber-attacks-utilities\u0022\u003EDepartment of Energy Awards Contract to Detect Cyber Attacks on Utilities\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.research.gatech.edu\/areas\/energy-and-sustainable-infrastructure\u0022\u003EEnergy and Sustainable Infrastructure Research at Tech\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.ece.gatech.edu\/research\/UCEP\/\u0022\u003EUniversity Center of Excellence for Photovoltaics Research and Education\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMaking the power grid smarter will allow integration of renewable power sources, and improve reliability. Groups from several areas of Georgia Tech\u0027s research program are contributing to this effort.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Making the power grid smarter will allow integration of renewable power sources, and improve reliability."}],"uid":"27303","created_gmt":"2014-01-31 14:31:41","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:15:47","author":"John Toon","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2014-01-31T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2014-01-31T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"272561":{"id":"272561","type":"image","title":"Smart Power Grid","body":null,"created":"1449244095","gmt_created":"2015-12-04 15:48:15","changed":"1475894961","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:49:21","alt":"Smart Power Grid","file":{"fid":"198671","name":"smart-grid_2.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/smart-grid_2_0.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/smart-grid_2_0.png","mime":"image\/png","size":106506,"path_740":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/smart-grid_2_0.png?itok=V1gWH4RT"}},"272571":{"id":"272571","type":"image","title":"Traditional Power Grid","body":null,"created":"1449244095","gmt_created":"2015-12-04 15:48:15","changed":"1475894961","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:49:21","alt":"Traditional Power Grid","file":{"fid":"198672","name":"traditionalgrid_2.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/traditionalgrid_2_0.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/traditionalgrid_2_0.png","mime":"image\/png","size":56724,"path_740":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/traditionalgrid_2_0.png?itok=QoA4b4gv"}}},"media_ids":["272561","272571"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"436","name":"electricity"},{"id":"85361","name":"grid"},{"id":"405","name":"NEETRAC"},{"id":"167365","name":"smart grid"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJohn Toon\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearch News\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jtoon@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ejtoon@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E(404) 894-6986\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jtoon@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}